white



2 SheetsSheet 1 (No Model.)

W. 1-]. WHITE.

GAS ENGINE ATTACHMENT.

Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

M nvvz/vroe WM W A A WORN/5V5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

GAS ENGINE ATTACHMENT.

B. WHITE.

Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

INVE/VTOR Way M7 Arron/VH5.

STATES PATENT tries.

WARREN E. WHITE, OF GARRETT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE GARRETT ENGINE, BOILER AND MACHINE WORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

GAS-ENGINE ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 599,376, dated February 22, 1898.

. Application filed April 9, 1897. Serial No. 631,401. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WARREN E. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garrett, in the county of De Kalb, in the State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engine Attachments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas-engine attachments. Y

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for engines operated by any wellknown hydrocarbon vapor or other similar substance adapted to form an explosive mixture when mixed with a proper quantity of air, adapted to render more effectual the mixing of air and fuel in the vaporizing-chamber prior to its entrance into the explosion-chamber of the cylinder by a new and improved vaporizer, having an improved means for emitting or discharging the smoke and burned gas from the igniting-tube after each explosion, and a simple, reliable, and efficient governor whose operative parts are centrifugal weights pivotally mounted within a support ing casting and connected by adjustable means for resisting the centrifugal force incident to use.

My invention comprises a hollow valve body or casing for the inlet and exhaust valves, rigidly secured to the engine-cylinder, having an exhaust-port and a direct communication with the said cylinder, a vaporizer detachably mounted in said body, provided with means for feeding the fuel-oil thereto, an improved means for emitting the smoke and burned gas from the igniting-tube, a pair of springpressed valves loosely mounted in said valvebody, and a centrifugal governor arranged in operative relation to said valves and adapted to actuate the same.

The novel features of my invention are my improved vaporizer, an improved means for discharging the smoke and burned gases, and an improved centrifugal governor.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of my improvement, with a side View of the centrifugal governor, broken away in part. Fig. 2 is a plan of the vaporizer, taken on the line was of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same on the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the governor, showing the general arrangement of its operative parts. Fig. 5 is a central section of Fig. 4 on the line 1 y, showing the centrifugal weights entire. Fig. 6 is a view of the reverse side of Fig. 4, showing the holding-pawl, which normally engages the movable cam. Fig. 7 is a detail of the actuating rocker-arms by which the supply and exhaust valves are alternately actuated.

All parts of. my improvement are made of suitable metal.

The valve-body 1 is an oblong casing or shell of proper dimensions, having a boss 41 and a circular opening in the top to receive the base of the vaporizer-shell, hereinafter described, and an exhaust-port 45 in the lower end thereof, which may be internally screwthreaded, as shown, to secure a proper exhaust-pipe, if desired. The interior space between these upper and lower openings is divided into two chambers by the transverse partition 43, the upper chamber 7 being in direct communication with the interior of the vaporizer through the open base thereof and also with the explosive-chamber of the cylin- 8 5 der through the lateral opening closed by the valve 30 and through the opening 42 in the cylinder. The lower chamber of said body 1 communicates with the explosive-chamber by said opening 42 and the lateral opening closed by the valve 36 and communicates with the atmosphere through the port 45.

At one side of the casting 1 is a hollow rightangular lateral opening closed by the capplate 44, which has a screw-threaded lateral 5 opening near the top thereof, into which the chambered casting 2 is secured by a screwthreaded connection. The outer end of the said casting 2 is provided with an open chamber 4, which is closed by a screw-threaded 10o plug 3. This plug has a longitudinal circular opening, in which the stern of the valve 3 is loosely mounted. The plug 3 has an oblique opening 4, leading from the chamber 4 to the atmosphere,and is for the emission of smoke from said chamber after each explosion. The said valve 3 has a proper annular seat upon the inner end of said plug 3 and is adapted to normally close the said opening 4. The said casting 2 is provided near its outer end with a circular upright boss 6, adapted to support the hollow chimney-base 6, having a lateral opening 8 for the burner, by which the ignition-tube 9 is mounted in the upper apertured end of the said boss 6 bya screwthreaded connection, and may be provided with a screw-threaded cap 9, if desired. The said base 6 is provided with an open-topped chimney 7, detachably mounted thereon.

A vertical conduit 8 leads from the chamber 4 to the open lower end of the ignitingtube 9, and a horizontal conduit 5 leads fromsaid chamber 4 to the interior of the chamber 2.

In the chamber 7 is arranged an integral curved arm or web 32, having a lateral aperture to loosely receive and guide the valvestem 31.

The valve-body 1 is secured to the cylinder by proper bolts in the holes 41, Fig. 1.

The vaporizer-shell 10, cylindrical in form, has an annular supporting-flange 10', adapted to rest upon the said boss 41, and has its reduced lower end adapted to be closely fitted in said boss and said upper opening and is secured therein by a set-screw 10 or other proper manner. The lower end of said shell 10 has an integral diametric web 10 having a circular lateral enlargement midway its ends, which enlargement is vertically apertured to loosely contain the lower end of the valve-stem 15. The upper open end of the shell 10 is closed bya cylindrical cap 11, having a pendent convex bottom 11 having an annular face 11. Cap 11 is rigidly secured in any proper manner in said shell, preferably by a screw-threaded connection. The bellshaped top of said cap 11 has a vertical screwthreaded opening adapted to receive and secure the pendent portion 13 of the feed-valve body 13, whose lower portion has a circular vertical conduit 18, opening into the interior of the vaporizer, and whose lower end is closed by the supply-valve 14, having a conical seat upon the lower end of said portion 13 and provided upon its upper end with an annular projecting portion 14, loosely contained in the lower portion of said conduit 18, to better feed the oil and guide said valve; The upper end of said valve-body 13 has an externallyscrew-threaded boss 23, having an internallyscrew-threaded nipple 23 secured thereto by a screwthreaded union 21. In this nipple the outer end of the fuel-supply pipe is secured. The boss 23 has a central opening 21. To the outer face of the externally-screwthreaded boss 22 is secured by an internallythreaded union 22 the nipple 24, having an internally-screw-threaded opening 25, in which is secured a fuel-supply pipe, (not shown,) leading to the burner, by which the ignitiontube is heated through the same opening 8. This boss 22 has a central opening 25, connected to the said opening 21 by an intermediate oblique conduit, as shown. The diametric lateral boss 19 has upon its outer face a stuffing-box 20, secured in position by the threaded cap 20. In a horizontal perforation in said boss 19 and cap 20 is mounted a screw-threaded valve-stem 19, having upon its outer end a hand-wheel 17 and provided upon its inner end with a needle-valve loosely arranged in a reduced conduit 26, which, in conjunction with the conduit 18, connects the said opening 25 with the said conduit 18. Upon the upper face of the said web 10 and concentric with said vaporizer-shell 10 is arranged the integral upright tubular casing 28, Figs. 1 and 2, adapted to contain the lower central portion of said valve-stem 15 and also the lower portion of the coil-spring 29, which is surmounted onsaid stem with its lower end bearing against said web 10 In said vaporizer-shell 10 is arranged a series of perforated annular plates 27, preferably three in number, having the outer edge in each instance rigidly fixed to the sides of said shell 10 and having their inner edges rigidly secured to the said casing 28, Fig. l. The upper end of the said valve-stem 15 has an enlarged screwthreaded portion 16, against the lower end of which the upper end of said coil-spring 29 forms abearing. On this portion 16 is mounted by a screw-threaded connection the bellshaped disk or valve 16, adapted to normally close the circular opening in the cap-bottom Y 11 and thereby normally close the vaporizing-chamber to the admission of either fuel or air.

The valve 16 is opened against the tension of the coil-spring 29 by the suction of the working piston in a well-understood manner, the said valve 16 being so arranged as to be readily withdrawn within the said bottom 11 by said suction, thereby admitting both air and fuel to the vaporizer-chamber, the air entering through a plurality of lateral perforations 12 in the said top 11.

In a suitable lateral opening in the forward side of the valve-body 1 and in the external concentric bosses 33 and 38 are loosely mounted the valve-stems 31 and 37, respectively, the extended outer ends of which are screwthreaded for the nuts 35 and 35 and form an end bearing against the bearing-surfaces 50 and 51 of the rocker-arms 49 and 48, respectively, Figs. 1 and 7, presently to be described. The said valve-stems 31 and 37 are provided upon their screw-threaded ends with the adj usting-nuts 35 and 40, respectively, secured in position thereon by the respective j am-nuts 85 and 40, and are also provided with the respective coil-springs 34 and 39, having their inner ends mounted upon the respective bosses 33 and 38 and bearing against the adjacent side of said body 1. The outer ends of said springs bear against the said adj usting-nuts and 40, respectively. The rocker-arms 48 and 49, of unequal length and in parallel arrangement, have the said openings 50' and 51 in vertical alinement and have their lower ends 48' and 49, Fig. 7, laterally apertured for a proper rock-shaft, (not shown,) on which they are properly mounted. The upper ends of said arms are provided with lateral studs, in which are fixed the bolts 65 and 66, respectively. On these bolts the respective rollers 51 and 50 are revolubly mounted. The supply-valve 30 and the exhaustvalve 36 are actuated and controlled by the centrifugal governor, about to be described, through the medium of the said rocker-arms and the said mounted rollers.

My improved governor is constructed as follows: The main circular rotatable casting 62 has a central boss 67, having a circular opening 62, for a proper supporting-shaft (not shown) suitably connected to the crank shaft by suitable gearing or other proper manner. The rear face of said casting 62 has a lateral peripheral flange 62, Fig. 5, whose perimeter forms an annular track 73 for the roller 50. This track is cut away in part, approximately about one-fourth thereof, to admit a movable cam 52, which is pivoted to said flange by the screw-bolt 63, Fig. 5. This cam is irregularly convex upon its upper surface and has its free end bent inwardly, so that when the said cam is held in its normal position with its uppersurface above the said track 73 the said roller can readily roll over the same, thereby opening the said valve 30 against the said retracting-spring 34. The said perimeter of the casting 62 immediately adjacent to the said track 7 3 is provided with an integral convex cam 53, immediately in the track of the said roller 51 and adapted to open said valve 36 by contact with said roller 51. On the lateral boss 74 on the rear face of said casting 62 is pivotally mounted, by means of the screw-bolt 75, the holding pawl 58, having an upright flange 58 thereon, provided with a lateral perforation adapted to loosely contain the outer end of the pin 59, which passes through an aperture 59, Fig. 6, in said casting 62, of greater diameter than said pin and adapted to permit alimited play therein. The inner end of said pin is secured in any proper manner in the adjacent face of the centrifugal weight 55. On the forward extended end of the said boss 67 is rigidly mounted the plate 57, having its inner portion slightly recessed and provided with the diametric oblong or kidney-shaped openings 76 and 77, Fig. 4, in which are longitudinally arranged the weights 56 and 55, respectively. The weight 56 is pivoted on the pivot-bolt 71, whose inner end is secured in a suitable perforation in the adjacent face of the said casting 62 and is provided with the integral arm 68,'having a bifurcated outer end adapted to embrace and form a pivotal holding engagement with the interlocking arm of said weight 55. The weight is pivoted on the screw-bolt 72, whose inner end is secured in the adjacent face of the casting 62, and has an integral arm 69, whose free circular end is adapted to holdingly engage the bifurcation of said arm 68. To the front face of said casting 57, near the central portion thereof, is arranged an integral horizontal bracket provided near its outer end with a vertical perforation, in which the upright rod 79 is loosely mounted, having upon its upper free end a holding-nut 80 and having its lower end rigidly secured to the outer face of said weight 55 by means of the screw-bolt 82. On the upper portion of this rod 79, between the said nut 80 and the said bracket 78, the coil or retracting spring 81 is loosely mounted. The said centrifugal weights 55 and 56 are so hung in said oblong openings as to have a limited play-therein under the centrifugal force to which they are subjected against the tension of the said spring 81. It is obvious that as the said weights are operatively connected by rigid arms they can readily be adjusted by adjusting the tension of said spring 81.

The operation of my improved gas-engine attachment thus described is briefly stated.

substantially as follows: The nipple 23 being connected with a proper fuel-supply, the nipple 24 being properlyconnected with a proper burner for heating the igniting-tube, and the adjustable feed-valve 19 being properly set to admit the desired supply to the reservoirchamber 18, the operator starts the engine, the speed of which is regulated by my improved centrifugal governor, which is designed to rotate in the direction of the arrow. The rotative arrangement of the operative parts is such that when the working piston approaches the limit of its forward stroke the cam 52 will open the supply-valve 3O byforcing the free end of the rocker-arm 49 forward against the tension of the spring 34, whereby the feed-valve 14 will be opened downwardly against the said spring 29 by suction in a well-understood manner, carrying with it the disk or valve 16, thereby admitting both fueloil and air to the vaporizingchamber. As the fuel oil which enters the vaporizingchamber must pass through the series of oblique perforated plates 27, the liquid drops are broken up into a fine spray and thoroughly mixed with the inrushing air, which enters the cap 11 at 12 and passes into the chamber 7, and thence into the chambers 2 and 4, filling the igniting-tube and passing into the explosion -chamber of the working piston through the opening 42. The return of the working piston compressing the fuel-gas in the explosion-chamber, forcing valve 3 to its seat, and causing an explosion thereof by means of the ignition-tube 9, is immediately followed by the opening of the exhaust-valve 36 by means of the fixed cam 53 on the revoluble governor, thereby emitting the prodnets of the explosion. The exhaust-valve 3 in the chamber 4 is at each charge of gas opened by suction for more perfectly and effic iently clearing the ignition-tube 9 of smoke and burned gases. Immediately following the exhaust the supply-valve 30 is again opened by an actuating engagement of the said movable cam 52 with the wheel for the admission of a fresh charge, as before.

The action of my improved governor is as follows: The pivoted cam 52 is supported in its normal position by the engagement of its free end with the adjacent end of the pivoted pawl 58; but as the speed of the engine increases the centrifugal force of the weights and 56 gradually overcomes the resistance of the coil-spring 81, and when the limit of speed is reached the said pawl will become disengaged from the pivoted cam 52 by the outward movement of the weight 55, to which said pawl is connected by the pin 59, thus permitting the said cam to yield to the contact with the wheel 50 without opening the supply-valve 30, thereby shutting off the fuel-supply, the said cam 52 being adapted to resume its normal position by a suitable spring in the said eye or other proper means. The speed of the engine is thus regulated by the said centrifugal weights against the tension of the resisting coil-spring 81.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of employing the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a gas-engine attachment, the combination of the valve body 1 chambered as shown, having an inlet and exhaust opening and provided with an apertured closing-plate 44; a chambered casting 2 mounted in said plate as shown, having a screw-threaded plug 3, and provided with an exhaust-valve 3 for the purpose specified; an upright ignitingtube mounted in said casting; a chimney 7 inclosing said tube; a vaporizer body or shell 10 having a series of apertured plates 27 mounted therein as shown, and having a concentric upright tubular casing 28, and provided with a cap 11 having lateral perforations 12 a flaring pendent bottom having an annular face 11 thereon; a screw plug 13 channeled as described for the feed-valves; and having an adjustable feed-valve arranged therein; a feed-valve 14 seated on the pendent inner end of said plug 13 havinga pendent stem 15 loosely mounted in said tubular casing and provided with a spiral retractingspring arranged as shown; a conical disk 16 mounted on said stem as shown and adapted to nearly close the upper end of the vaporizing-chamber; the inlet-valve 30 for the chamber 7, having a spring-pressed extended stem whose outer end forms a bearing on the rocker-arm 49; the exhaust-valve 36 having the free end of its spring-pressed stem bearing on the rocker-arm 48; the rocker-arms 48 and 49 mounted as described; and means for alternately actuating said arms, all substantially as shown.

2. In a gas-engine attachment, a vaporizer comprising a shell or body 10 mounted as seated as shown on the lower channeled end of said valve-body having a pendent stem 15 loosely mounted in said tubular casing and in a suitable opening in the open bottom of the shell 10, and adapted to be opened by suction as specified; a bell-shaped disk 16 fixed upon the upper end of said valve-stem and adapted to normally close the opening to said base 11 when the feed-valve 14 is seated and a spiral retracting-spring mounted as shown on said stem and adapted to normally hold the feed-valve upon its seat, all substantially as shown.

3. In an attachment for gas-engines, a centrifugal governor comprising a casting 62 having a central shaft-opening 62, and a concentric boss 67 upon both sides thereof, and provided upon its outer face with an annular peripheral flange 62 for the purpose specified, and also provided with a rigid peripheral cam 53; a cam 52 pivotally mounted on the outer face of said casting as described; a hollow pawl 58, pivotally mounted on said casting and adapted for a holding engagement with said cam 52; an annular disk 57 rigidly fixed upon the forward portion of said boss 67 and having the diametric openings 76 and 77; a pair of centrifugal weights arranged in said openings as shown, and pivotally mounted in the adjacent face of the said casting, the said weights being provided with rigid interlocking arms as described; a rod 79 fixed at one end to one of said weights and loosely mounted on a guide-bracket 78; and a retracting-spring 81 arranged as shown and adapted to resist the centrifugal force of said weights, all substantially as described.

4. In a centrifugal governor, the combination of a main casting 62 centrally apertured for the crank-shaft, having an integral peripheral cam for the purpose specified a movable cam pivoted on said casting as shown for the purpose described, a pivoted pawl mounted on said casting in operative relation to said movable cam and adapted to normally support the same in its working position; an annular disk or faceplate rigidly fixed to said main casting, and provided with diametric oblong openings; a pair of centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said casting and arranged in said openings of the faceplate, and provided with rigid interlocking arms as shown; a rod 79 fixed as shown to one of said weights in parallel relation with said face-plate and loosely mounted in a fixed guide-bracket on said casting; an adjustable retracting-spring 81 mounted as shown on said rod and adapted to resist the centrifugal force of said Weights, all substantially as described.

5. In a gas-engine attachment, the combination of the valve-body 1; a vaporizing-shell mounted therein; a channeled casting 2 detachably mounted in said valve body as shown, having an open ignition-chamber l, a longitudinal conduit 5 leading thereto, and a vertical boss 6 provided With a channel 8; the vertical ignition-tube 9 fixed as shown in said channel 8; a proper chimney inclosing said tube; a screw-plug 3 mounted as shown in the outer end of said casting 2, and provided with an exhaust-port 4 for the ignition- WARREN E. WHITE. \Vitnesses:

EDWARD A. MYERS, SADIE MCCURDY MYERS, 

